Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai spent his first night in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody on February 16, 2026, following an intense interrogation at the agency’s Abuja headquarters.
Arriving around 10 a.m. in response to an invitation, the outspoken politician and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain was detained overnight amid a high-profile N432 billion corruption investigation stemming from his 2015-2023 administration. EFCC sources confirmed the detention, emphasizing that the probe had advanced significantly over the past year before summoning him. Spokesman Dele Oyewale verified El-Rufai’s appearance but withheld further details, signaling no immediate release.
The core of the N432b probe revolves around a 2024 Kaduna State House of Assembly report accusing El-Rufai’s regime of massive financial misconduct. An ad hoc committee, chaired by Henry Zacharia, alleged that loans totaling N423 billion were misappropriated, not used for intended purposes like infrastructure and education. The report highlighted violations in contract awards, diversion of funds (including N1.37bn for a light rail project and N64.8m laundered by aides), and plunging the state into debt.
Speaker Yusuf Dahiru Leman endorsed petitions to the EFCC and ICPC, recommending prosecution for abuse of office, money laundering, and reckless borrowing. El-Rufai has denied the claims, calling them politically motivated and insisting funds supported development projects.
Compounding the financial scrutiny, El-Rufai faces federal charges for allegedly bugging National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s phone. In a February 13, 2026, Arise TV interview, he admitted intercepting Ribadu’s communications, claiming it revealed an illegal arrest order against him. The three-count charge under the Cybercrimes Act accuses him of unlawful interception, failure to report it, and compromising national security, potentially facing up to 10 years in prison. Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga dismissed it as a diversion tactic.
In a related escalation, the Department of State Services (DSS) reopened the 2019 disappearance of critic Abubakar Idris (Dadiyata), probing El-Rufai and sons Bello and Bashir based on social media evidence. The DSS seized El-Rufai’s passport to prevent travel.
This convergence of probes marks a pivotal downfall for El-Rufai, once a ruling elite insider, now entangled in legal battles that could reshape his legacy as Nigeria approaches elections.
